Chapter 236

“Zinnia, there you are.” Lydia opened the door with a warm smile as she saw Zinnia. Now that Bonnie’s health was improving, the gloom over Lydia had lifted, like a pearl wiped clean of dust.

“Zinnia.” Bonnie’s voice trilled from the living room, followed by the clatter of toys. Quickly, her figure peeked out from behind Lydia, her eyes shining like stars at Zinnia.

“I missed you so much,” Bonnie pouted, tugging at Zinnia’s hand. “You didn’t come see me yesterday.”

Before Zinnia could respond, Lydia gently took Bonnie’s hand, smiling softly. “Mom, remember? I told you Zinnia was busy yesterday.”

After losing her memories, Bonnie mostly saw Lydia, the nanny, and Zinnia, and she’d taken a total shine to Zinnia.

“Want something to make you happy, Bonnie?” Zinnia flashed a grin, leaning into the corner to yank out a three-foot-tall monster candy cane.

“Wow, a candy cane! It’s so huge and long!” Bonnie’s eyes sparkled as she clapped her hands in delight.

Zinnia handed the candy cane over, and Bonnie grabbed it eagerly. “Thank you, Zinnia. You’re the best!”

Lydia gave a fond eye-roll. “You always bring her something. She asks about you every single day.”

“Then I’ll come visit more often,” Zinnia said as she changed her shoes and stepped into the living room.

Bonnie was already planted on the couch, carefully unwrapping the candy cane.

“Smells amazing, Lydia. What’s cooking?” Zinnia called out, the sweet aroma hitting her as she walked in.

“Egg tarts, sweet potatoes, and cookies,” Lydia replied, trailing behind. She always had a spread of treats ready when Zinnia came over.

“Score!” Zinnia beamed.

“I made some orange juice. Let me pour you a glass,” Lydia offered.

Zinnia settled onto the couch, where Lydia’s notebook lay open—filled with neat study notes written just for Zinnia. Since Zinnia struggled with STEM basics, Lydia had been compiling detailed annotations to break down tough concepts.

Quickly, Lydia came back, carrying a tray with three glasses, bear-shaped cookies, and egg tarts. “Try this, iced orange juice,” Lydia said.

As Zinnia took it, the bright tang of freshly squeezed oranges hit her nose. Ice cubes clinked against the rim, their edges already softening in the vibrant, sun-colored juice. A slice of orange perched on the edge—pith carefully trimmed, just how she liked it.

“Your homemade orange juice is always amazing,” Zinnia said, taking the cup with both hands and sipping. Instantly, her eyes sparkled with delight.

“Glad you like it,” Lydia murmured, lowering her gaze with a soft smile.

Zinnia took another sip of her drink, then pulled out a workbook from her bag. It was stuffed with problems that Lydia had given her. Whenever she had time, she’d work on them. If she got stuck, Lydia would help her out.

“Lydia,” Zinnia said sheepishly, “I only cracked two of yesterday’s problems. There are a few I’m stuck on. Can you walk me through them?”

“Okay,” Lydia said, sitting beside Zinnia and leaning in to check the workbook.

Zinnia held her cup, waiting as Lydia reviewed the pages. The light, citrusy scent of orange—coming from Lydia—hung in the air around them.

Zinnia lowered her gaze as Lydia leaned in, then did a double-take—Lydia had taken off her black-framed glasses, revealing a delicate and beautiful face.

Lydia’s skin was tender, untouched by the sun. A dainty nose, softly arched brows, and rose-tinted lips—she stood there like a piece of glass figurine, exuding quiet elegance and that cozy, bookish vibe.

She wasn’t drop-dead gorgeous, but there was something so warm and trustworthy about her. Being near her was like sinking into a cozy armchair, making Zinnia feel like Lydia would always have her back.

Zinnia thought about the recent trend of categorizing girls into different “elements.” She figured Lydia must be water—her appearance was so clear and pure, giving off a soft and gentle vibe.

“Lydia, you’re not wearing glasses,” Zinnia blurted out.

“Yeah.” Lydia tilted her head up, eyes crinkling into gentle half-moons. The tenderness in her gaze made Zinnia’s breath catch.

Leaning in to see the workbook, Lydia angled herself lower than Zinnia. When she looked up, a few strands of hair fell across her face. From this upward view, her features seemed even more fragile—like a doll.

Zinnia was momentarily stunned by her beauty and blurted out, “Lydia, you’re so beautiful.”

She’d never seen Lydia like this—so gentle, so beautiful. At that moment, she just wanted to claim Lydia as her daughter and play dress-up.

‘Oh, I didn’t expect Lydia to be this gorgeous. Those clunky black frames were hiding her glow this whole time. I need to get her a cute pair—can’t let those outdated specs mask her beauty anymore,’ Zinnia thought.

“Thanks for the sweet words, cutie.” Lydia’s lips curved into a soft smile, her light brown eyes crinkling with amusement. Her voice was as gentle as a lullaby.

“I wish I could have a daughter just like you someday,” Zinnia said, propping her chin in her hand as she stared at Lydia with heartfelt eyes. Too bad her health wouldn’t let her have kids—she could only satisfy her longing by admiring Lydia’s face.

Lydia’s smile flickered for a second. She picked up a pen and said, “Zinnia, let’s focus on these problems—no more chit-chat.”

“Got it.” Zinnia plunked down her cup at the mention of homework, trying to look serious. ‘Problems, problems… I’ll solve every last one! This time, they’ll be the ones losing sleep over me,’ she vowed silently.

But reality hit hard. Fifteen minutes later, Zinnia flopped back with a groan, taking a vicious bite of an egg tart. “This is impossible, Lydia. Am I just dense? You’ve explained this a million times.”

Zinnia’s STEM basics were nonexistent. She’d never really studied before, so she was years behind. Catching up wasn’t gonna happen overnight.

She wasn’t a prodigy. She couldn’t learn things at a glance—every concept needed repetition: drilling, reciting, brainstorming, and rewriting. There was no way to make up for a decade of missed studying in a month or two.

Seeing Zinnia’s defeated look, Lydia ruffled her hair gently. “You’re not dense at all. We’ll take it slow—you’re a quick learner. We just need to build your foundation. Don’t be so hard on yourself, alright?”

After wolfing down two egg tarts and guzzling her orange juice, Zinnia perked right up. “Lydia, I’m back in the game. Let’s keep going,” she said, pumping her fist.